Fishing duo enjoys catching big ones on area lakes

MONTEZUMA — One might be hard pressed to find two men who love fishing more than Kolten Kudart and Chuck Michalek.

The duo, who hail from Barnes City and Montezuma, respectively, have been fishing in area lakes together for six years.

They are part of three different area fishing clubs, two of which they started. There’s the No Wake Club based in Keswick; Week Night Fishing Club based in Barnes City and the Hawthorn Jigs Super Singles Club based in Barnes City.

The two men love to fish and at the first sign of spring, and it’s a sure bet you will find them on an area lake catching some big ones.

They started fishing as early as Feb. 14 last year. It won’t be long until they put their boat in the water for the 2025 season.

Some of their favorite fishing spots are Diamond Lake, Lake Iowa, Hawthorne Lake, Lake Keomah, Lake Belva Deer, Lake Wapello, Rock Creek Lake and Lake Ponderosa, where they both own property.

“We are on the water four days a week on average,” said Kudart.

In 2024, the fishing duo earned some serious hardware. Kudart earned first place in the Week Night Fishing Club in the weekends single series, and Michalek brought home second place. Michalek won the Hawthorn Jigs and more super singles championship, and Kudart finished in second place.

The duo has earned 15 awards individually and together in the six years they have fished as a team.

“We won the Lake Ponderosa Veterans Tournament for the Give Foundation,” said Kudart of the tournament held in May.

And in July last year, the duo took part in a fishing tournament on Hawthorne Lake.

“We got the honor of being last out of the gate with a 19 draw (19 fishing entries) and turned it on with a second-place finish,” said Kudart.

Also in July, Kudart caught a 7.05 pound bass at Lake Wapello in a super singles event and finished in first place with a catch of 12.9 pounds total.

Kudart said fishing gives him peace of mind when he’s out on the water.

“It’s the competitiveness of the sport,” said Kudart. “We are always learning. There is always a new technique or electronic item to learn.”

“There’s never anything hurt by fishing,” chimed in Michalek.

In addition to fishing, the duo makes some of their own fishing lures through their company, Hawthorne Jigs.

The non-profit business provides money to pay fishing tournament fees, upkeep on equipment and to purchase fishing gear.

“We started selling to fund our hobby,” said Michalek. “Every dollar [we make from selling our jigs] goes back into the business.”

Outside of crankbaits, the duo fishes mostly with its own homemade lures.

Kudart is an equipment tester for Sixgill Fishing Products, a company based in Texas. Other gear they men use include Abu Garcia and Bass Pro Rod and Reels.

When in a fishing tournament, their goal is to have five fish weighing 20 pounds total in the live well. It’s not uncommon for the duo to reel in several five pounders in a tournament.

“It’s all trial and error,” said Kudart.

“You don’t know what you are getting until you get there,” said Michalek.

“We are always learning on the fly,” added Kudart.

Anyone interested in learning more about Hawthorn Jigs and call Kudart at 641-891-4623.